Bernard Durkan
Question:178. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when an operation at Tallaght hospital will be facilitated for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9028/16]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (178)
Written answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage
Questions (179)
Bernard Durkan
Question:179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if there is a means test available whereby money spent on the maintenance of a sleep apnoea machine can be offset against moneys spent under the drugs payment scheme if a case where a person (details supplied) purchases above the top limit of €144 per month but does not receive the full payment in refunds for money spent on prescriptions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9029/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to you.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (180)
Barry Cowen
Question:180. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health the status of the case of a person (details supplied), including when the person will receive an appointment from the Health Service Executive. [9034/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (181)
Thomas Byrne
Question:181. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied) for surgery in Our Lady’s Hospital, Navan, County Meath. [9045/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Hospital Services
Questions (182)
Pearse Doherty
Question:182. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 879 of 9 June 2015, wherein the reply clearly states that an overall review of antenatal arrangements was initiated by the clinical directorate, why, following a freedom of information request in which access to all written records pertaining to this review was sought, the request was refused on the grounds that the documentation being requested did not exist; the nature of the review which did take place; if written documentation is available in respect of the review carried out in relation to antenatal service provision; if such records are available; if he will release these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9048/16]
View answerWritten answers
A search of the Department's FOI database was carried out and no such request, referred to by the Deputy could be found.
It may be that the request referred to, was sent to the Health Service Executive (HSE). Statutory responsibility for the HSE's compliance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act rests with the HSE.
Freedom of Information legislation provides a right of appeal for requesters, in circumstances where records have been refused under any of the exemption provisions of the legislation.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (183)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:183. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an operation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9049/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised, as this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Health Services
Questions (184)
Tom Neville
Question:184. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Health the status of regulating psychotherapy and counselling. [9052/16]
View answerWritten answers
The regulation of the 14 professions currently designated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 is being implemented on a phased basis as the registration board and register for each profession is established. Currently 9 of the 14 designated professions have registration boards and registers have been established for 7 of them.
Psychotherapists and counsellors are not currently regulated under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005. However, the Act provides that the Minister for Health may, by regulation, designate a health and social care profession not already designated if he or she considers that it is appropriate and in the public interest to do so and if specified criteria have been met.
In accordance with the Act, the Health and Social Care Professionals Council has been consulted on the question of regulating counsellors and psychotherapists. Its detailed report on the matter is being examined carefully in the Department of Health with a view to deciding the next steps in the coming months. These steps will, I envisage, include a wider round of consultation involving the various professional bodies and other interested parties.
While the profession or professions of counsellor and psychotherapist are not specifically designated under the 2005 Act, there are various regulatory controls on many counsellors and psychotherapists operating in Ireland.
The profession of psychologist, for example, is a designated profession under the 2005 Act which means that those psychologists who are counsellors and/or psychotherapists will begin to be regulated when the Psychologists Registration Board, which is due to be established later this year, opens its register.
Psychiatrists, some of whom practice psychotherapy, are regulated under the Medical Practitioners Act 2007. Also, counsellors/therapists working in the publicly funded health sector are required to have minimum qualifications set by the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (185)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:185. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an appointment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9055/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Questions (186)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:186. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for a device by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9068/16]
View answerWritten answers
As the particular issue raised relates to an individual case, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to you. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (187)
John Brassil
Question:187. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to expedite an appointment for a person (details supplied) in University Hospital Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9070/16]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is required to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. Section 6 of the HSE Governance Act 2013 bars the Minister for Health from directing the HSE to provide a treatment or a personal service to any individual or to confer eligibility on any individual.
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she should take the matter up with the consultant and the hospital involved. In relation to the specific case raised, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and my officials will follow the matter up.
Health Services Provision
Questions (188)
John Brassil
Question:188. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health to expedite treatment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9072/16]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.